April Garner is a writer of both fiction and non-fiction that addresses the things we don’t like to talk about in public. She has published, so far, one novel, several online articles and many, many, many local magazines, which stubbornly remain in the dark ages of print-only. Her novel, The Way It’s Supposed to Be, received a Writer’s Digest award for self-published e-books in 2023.
When asked to name some of her strengths at a conference table, she noted, “Well, I can’t say I’m funny because I’m not.” Everyone laughed. April lives in Austin, Texas.
The Way It’s Supposed to Be
My debut novel is called The Way It’s Supposed to Be (ahem! award-winning). It’s a story of someone who dares to question what her friends, family and culture expect of her. Allie strikes out into the wilderness, leaving a bloody message for her fiancé who, in his desperate and frustrating search to find her, is forced to confront his own subtle prejudices and assumptions about family. Allie and Mitch are both a mess, but events push them to try to reconcile their conflicting ideas about what each wants in life…
Available in e-book or paperback
Praise for The Way It’s Supposed to Be
I love that it spoke to questions about partnership and compromise but also what life should be about at the most fundamental level — what it might look like without the patriarchy and whether or not we’re obligated to participate in any of it. I read it in one sitting.
~ Ronda B.
I loved the subtle references to Central Texas and the coastal landscape of Texas. The author does an incredible job of developing the central characters. The book was captivating, leaving me with some deep introspection, being able to relate to trials and tribulations of both characters.
~ Geoff K.
I enjoyed the book very much, and it is not at all what I expected, which was good. It left me questioning my own assumptions about myself, our society, and life in general. Also, I couldn’t put it down!
~ Marlene C.
This book grabbed me from the beginning. The main characters’ stories — where they came from, how they got here, and their hopes for the future kept me pondering how such events shape where we are.
~ Katie S.